Refrigeration apparatus and method



Oct. 5, 1943. w. B. ANDERSON I REFRIGERATION APPARATUS AND "METHOD 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 19 H I I I I HUN IEI NWW IH-H a I l sar l hw z I WITNESSES:

v 1 IN VENTOR W\LLLAM B. Auuawou ATTO EY Oct. 5, 1943. w. B. ANDER$ON REFRIGERATION APPARATUS AND METHOD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 19 1942 INVENTO R WILLJAM E. Auvaasom.

' ATTOR EY Patented Oct 5, 1943 William B. Anderson, West Springfield, Mass., as-

signor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a comeration' of Pennsylvania Application June 13, 1942, Serial No. 447,640

10 Claims. (01, 62-1) This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more especially to amethod of packaging such apparatus and methods for testing and shipping said packaged tion basis. h

One object'of the invention is to provide economibally packaged refrigerating units.

Another object of, the invention is to provide economically packaged refrigerating, units and an improved means of testing the units in their packaged form.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved, method of testing refrigerating units.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method. ofshipping refrigerator units.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved method of determining the refrigerant charge in refrigerating units.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as-will be apparent from the following units on a mass producdescription and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a refrigerating unit assembled in the packaged fonn ofthis invention; 1 4

' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the packaged refrigerating unit of Fig. 1;'

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the refrigerating condenser and, evaporator of Fig. 1;

, Fig.4 is a partial vertical section of the sealed casing of the motor-compressor unit;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the room in which the units are tested; v Fig. 6 is an elevation of a freight car with one side wall removed to show the method of supporting the refrigerating units in the car; and, Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII--VII of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings for a description of the invention, the reference numeral I0 represents a plate-type condenser comprising an elongated channel-shaped plate of metal H and a metal tube l2 convoluted back and forth across the inner surface thereof and brazed thereto.

The plate I I has outwardly-turned edges l3, and 1 a bracket I4 is secured by rivets Hi to the lower portion of the edges l3. The bracket It supports a hermetically-sealed casing H by means of three rubber supports. l8. The casing I'l encloses U-shaped sheets of metal 28 and 29 in which depressions are formed to provide various refrigerating passages 30, 3|, 32 and 33. The sheets 28 and 29 are welded together to provide a leak- Y proof structure. run along the base 2| and along the legs 22 and 23 parallel to the edges 24 and 26 and are interconnected at the base by the cross passage 30.

The narrow passages 31 communicate with the' relatively large, elongated passage 32 and with the somewhat smaller passage 33, each of which is adjacent and parallel to one, of the edges 21 a refrigerantcompressor ISand-a motor 20 for driving the same and forms a sump for lubricatin oil.

An'evapora'tor l9 is secured to the upper portion of the plate condenser ID. The evaporator I9 is generally U-shaped and comprises a base 2|, two legs 22 and 23, and front, back and top edges 24, 23 and 21. The evaporator l9 comprises two of the legs 22 and 23, respectively. The two passages 32 and 33 are interconnected by-a tube35. The respective top edges2l of the legs 22 and 23 are provided w'tih lugs 10, which lugs are secured with bolts 34 to the condenser lll.

The compressor IS in the casing l'l communicates with the upper end of the tube I 2 by means of a tube 36. The lower end of the tube l2 communicates with the lower portion of the passage 30 through a capillary impedancetube 31. The casing l1 communicates with the upper portion of the large refrigerant passage 32 through a suction tube 38. Power for the electric motor in the casing I1 is supplied through 'three'insulated bushings 39 located in the walls of the casing 1 I. The refrigerant unit just described contains a refrigerant liquid so that when power is .appiied to the electric motor through the bushings 39,'tl1e compressor will compress and discharge refrigerant vapor through tube 36 into the tube l2 of the condenser l0 wherein the refrigerant vapor condenses to a liquid which flows downwardly in the tube I 2 and is delivered bythe capillary tube 31 tothe refrigerant passage 30. The refrigerant liquid flows into the passage 30 to fill the evaporator lit to the level indicated byline M, which level is hereinafter designated as the refrigerant liquid level. When thus united'together or packaged, the evaporator I9 is not in its normal operating position but is secured to the plate H of the condens-- er ID by means of the lugs 40 whicheventually are used to secure the evaporator, l9 to the upper wall of the insulated chamber of the refrigerator 'cabinetin which the unit is employed In its normal operating position the edge 21 of the evaporator I9 is uppermost so that the two passages 32 and 33 form refrigerant headers. The.

normal position of the evaporator l9 when the unit is assembled to a refrigerant cabinet is shown in Patent No. 2,279,272, issued April 7, 1942, to W. B. Anderson et al. The evaporator in its 1 The refrigerating passages 3|" ably designed freight cars January 30, 1940. It may in which forms apart of the assembly line on w ning period designated as the "frost line.

- located somewhat above;

' form thereon-at areas remote from the re economical means ofshipping'the' units is desirable. The units so packaged may be shipped without using any additional crating or packaging material by'placing the units directly on supporting rails 46 provided for this purpose in suit- V 41. This method of shipping is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Heretofore, the units were shipped with the evaporators sup-- ported by brackets from .the plate condenser, in

the position it'would normally be in when disposed in the refrigerator cabinet. .-By this improved method of shipping, the brackets, etc., for supporting the evaporator are dispensed with.

be located at a distance .from the one in which operating position with the edge 21 uppermost, the refrigerator cabinets are produced, so that an the level of the refrigerant therein will be slightly below the large refrigerantpassages 82 and 83. When the evaporator 19 is tilted so that the edge I tube 38 withdraws re upper portion of the evaporator I9.

' The refrigerating unit is preferably passedthrough the shop test in the packaged form shown in the drawings. During the shop-test the unit is in the upright position; as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with the edge 24 of the evaporator .lii approximately horizontal and uppermost. In this position, the refrigerating apparatus in the casing l1 and the con mal operating position. The shop test is made by .running the bare unit for a predetermined period of time in a test room maintained preferably at a predetermined temperature and humidity.

Such a shop test is describedin detail in Patent No. 2,188,303, issued to Charles' E."Roberts on clude the use of a chamber 49"in which the temperature and hu. midity is held at constant values by an air conditioning unit 5| controlledby the temperatureresponsive element 52 and the humidity-responsive element 53. The refrigerating units may be moved through this chamber on a trolley 5;

hic

the units are fabricated. At the end of the runcertain observations are made, and one of these is'the height of the,upper edge of the frost area which gathers on the evaporator IS. The upper edge is represented by the dotted line 42 in the drawings and will hereinafter be During such a test the frost gathers atthose areas of theevaporator whic spreads somewhat beyond the area containing the liquid depending upon the duration and character of the test. As'shown in Figs. 1 and 2,.itis the refrigerant liquid ak at the base of the level 4| and comes to a pe I 30. This peak evaporator l9 adjacent the passage is caused by the refri spouting-upwardly in passage 30 as it issues from I the tube'31'.. If the refrigerant unit is charged with too much or too little refrigerant liquid, it

\ is indicated by a too-high or too -low position of the frost line'42, respectively.

If the cooling unit 19 were in its normal oph'contain refrigerant liquid and usuallydenser lllare in their norgerant-liquid and vapor 24 is uppermost,ra substantial portion of the refrigerant liquid will flow into the lower portions of the large'passages 32 and '33 so that the refrigerant liquid level is at a comparatively lower point onthe evaporator l9. It will he noted that in either position of the evaporator 19, the suction frigerant vapor from the It is also obvious that my invention is not limited to the type of evaporator shown in'the drawings.

It will be apparent from the above .that this invention provides a convenient method of packagingthe elements of a refriger shipment. It will be further apparent that in the packaged form ofthe elements, as provided by ,this invention, a more accurate determination of the quantity of refrigerantliquid in the unit is obtainable'duringthe shop test of the packaged'unit. Furthermore, the packaged unit may be readilyand cheaply shipped in the same condition as, when tested, twithout theuse of crates, etc.

While I have shown my invention in'but ,one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications 'without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire,

therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specific in the appended claims.

What I claimiis';

l. A'packaged refrigerating condenser having a substantially vertical surface when in its normal operating position, a refrigerant compressor secured to said condenser in normal operating relationship therewith, an evaporator having .a portion which is uppermost when the evaporator is in its normal operating position, and means securing said evaporator to ally set forth the vertical surface of the condenser in such a position that said normally uppermost portion of the evaporator faces said surface of said condenser. J

2 A packaged refrigerating unit comprising arigid condenser, a refrigerant compressor secured to said condenser in normal operating relationship therewith, an evaporator having an upper portion, means for suspending the evaporator from its upper portion when in its normal operating position and means securing said evaporator by, said suspending means tosaid rigid condenser at right angles 'to its relationship to said condenser duringnormal operation, whereby gerating position with the edge 21 uppermost during. the shop test, the entire evaporator be covered with frost. The lfrost line would then be on. the portion 43 of the suction tube 18 immediately adjacent the evaporator and would .not accurately indicate the quantity of, refrigerant liquid in the evaporator because the velocity of the refrigerant vapor passing through the tube 43 is comparatively high, so that entrained particles of refrigerant liquid are carried'with it. These particles of refrigerant liquidrefrigerate the tube 43 to such a degree that the frost may frigerant liquid. 1 The reason for the change in thefrost line in the two positions of the evapo tor I9 is as follows: When the evaporator is would said condenser and evaporator are united with a minimum of extraneous fastenings into a unit suitable for testing and shipping.

3. A packaged refrigerating unit comprising a rigid condenser; arefrigerant compressor secured to said condenser in normal operating relation- Q ship therewith, an evaporator, means on the said evaporator being-secured to said rigid con- I upper portion of said evaporator for suspending it in its normal operating position from a horizontal interior wall of a refrigerator cabinet,

denser substantially directly by said suspending means in a relationship to said condenser and compressor at right anglesto its relationship thereto during normal operation, whereby said condenser, compressor, .and evaporator are united with a minimum of extraneous fastenings into a I! is in its normal 15 package suitable for testing and ating unit for unit comprising a 4. The method of testing a refrigerating unit by operating said unit un er controlled conditions, said unit comprising a condenser, a compressor, and an evaporator; said evaporator being so proportioned that, when in its normal operating position, the major portion thereof is covered with frost when said unit is operated under said controlled conditions, and when said evaporator is disposed at a certain angle to its normal operating position, a substantially smaller portion thereof is covered with frost when said unit is operated under said controlled conditions; said method comprising disposing the evaporator at said angle, operating said unit under said controlled conditions while said evaporator is in such position, and comparing the frosted areas of said evaporator with a predetermined standard.

5. The method oftesting a mechanical refrigcrating unit, said unit comprising a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, and a refrigerant evaporator, tubing connecting said compressor, condenser, and evaporator into an operative refrigerating circuit, refrigerant liquid in said unit, said evaporator having refrigerant passages and a relatively larger refrigerant header, said method of testing comprising operating said unit with at least said evaporator in a humid ambient atmosphere and with said evaporator positioned at such an angle to its normal operating position that a substantial portion of the refrigerant-passages are above the refrigerant liquid level in the evaporator and a substantial portion of the header is below said level, and comparing the frost line formed on the evaporator during said operating period with a predetermined standard.

6. The method of testing a mechanical refrigcrating unit,,said unit comprising a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, and a refrigerant evaporator, tubing connecting said compressor, condenser, and evaporator into an operative refrigerant circuit, refrigerant liquid in said unit, said evaporator having refrigerant passages and a relatively larger refrigerant header, said method of testing comprising operating said unit for a predetermined time in an ambient atmosphere of substantially predetermined 'temperature and humidity while said evaporator is positioned at such an angle with its normal operating position that a substantial portion of the refrigerant passages are above the refrigerant liquid level in the evaporator and a substantial portion of the header is below said level, and comparing the frost line formed on the evaporator during said operating period with a predetermined standard.

7. The method of testing a mechanical refrigerating unit. said unit comprising a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, and a refrigerant evaporator, tubing connecting said compressor, condenser, and evaporator into an operative unit, refrigerant liquid in said refrigerating unit, said refrigerant evaporator having small refrigerant passages and a larger refrigerant passage located above said small refrigerant passage when the evaporator is in its normal operating position, said method of testing comprising positioning said evaporator at an angle to its normal operating position so that at least a substantial portion of said small passages are at a higher level than a substantial portion of said larger passage, whereby the refrigerant liquid level in said evaporator is located further below the upper portion of the uppermost of any of said passages than during operation in its normal position, operating said unit for a period of time in a humid ambient atmosphere, and comparing the height of the frost area formed on the evaporator during said period with a predetermined standard.

8. The method of testing a mechanical refrigerating unit, said unit comprising a refrigerant compressor, a refrigerant condenser, and a refrigerant evaporator, tubing connecting said compressor, conductor, and evaporator into an operative unit, refrigerant liquid in said refrigerating unit, said refrigerant evaporator having small refrigerant passages and a large refrigerant passage located above said small refrigerant passages when the evaporator is in its normal operating position, said method of testing comprising positioning said evaporator at an angle to its normal operating position so that at least, a substantial portion of said small passages are at a higher level than a substantial portion of said large passage, whereby the refrigerant liquid level in said evaporator is located farther below the upper portion of the uppermost of :aid passages than during operation in its normal position, operating said unit for a predetermined period of time in an ambient atmosphere of substantially predetermined temperature and humidity, and comparing the height of the frost area formed on the evaporator during said period with a predetermined standard.

9. The method of packaging, testing, and ship ping a refrigerating unit, said unit comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, said evaporator having the major portion thereof covered with frost during operation of said unit with the evaporator in its normal operating position, packaging said unit by securing said compressor to said condenser in normal operating relationship therewith, securing said evaporator to said condenser in a test position so that when the condenser and compressor are in their normal operating position and the unit operated during test conditions, substantially smaller portions of said evaporator will be covered by frost, testing said packaged unit by operating the same with the condenser and compressor in their normal operating position and the evaporator in said test position and shipping said unit in said packaged form with said evaporator in said test position.

10. The method of packaging, testing, and shipping a refrigerating unit, said unit comprising a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator having refrigerant passages and a refrigerant header above said passages when the evaporator is in its normal operating position, said method comprising packaging said unit by securing said compressor to said condenser in normal operating relationship therewith and securing said evaporator to said condenser in a test position so that when the unit is operated with the condenser and compressor in their normal operating position, more refrigerant liquid will be located in said refrigerant header than is present therein when the unit is operated with the condenser, compressor and evaporator in their normal operating position, whereby the refrigerant liquid level in said evaporator is lowered, testing said unit when so packaged by operating the same with the condenser and compressor in their normal operating position and the evaporator in said test position and shipping said unit in said packaged form, whereby the necessity of using additional packaging material is avoided,

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTI ON Patent No. 2,551,099. October 5, 19%.

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction 'as follows Page 5, first column, line 66, claim 7, for "passage read -passagesumn, line 10, claim 8, for "conductor" read --condenser 'and that the said and second colr- Letters Patent shonld be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent 'Officei Signed and sealed this 25rd day of November, A. D, -l9 i;,- 5

Henry Van reas-16', (Seal) Acting commi sioner,or--r pents-.x 

